Roof construction



Aug. 13, 1940. H. A. FABER ROOF CONSTRUCTION' Filed Junev 2, 1938 INVENTOR -Herber A.F'aber BY LT Aw/7 k H15 ATTORNY AU.\m QJ. v

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Patented Aug. l13, 1940 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Herbert A. Faber, cincinnati, ohio Application june z, 193s, serial No. 211,341

4 Claims. lThis invention relates to an improved roof construction for buildings, and finds particular application in fiat, load carrying roof structures,

such as a sun deck or porchi popular in modern house construction.

The invention contemplates a load carrying sub-structure, preferably concave to form a'water gathering surface with which a centrally located down spout may be employed, membrane metallic surfacing material overlying said sub-structure and elastically secured thereto, and a wearresistant deck or flooring applied directly on said metallic membrane, in conformity ywith the secondary purpose of the structure as a useful, loadbearing deck.

It is a feature of the invention that the metalli membrane is not rigidly affixed to the supporting structure per se, thereby providing for independent movement 'of the membrane with respect to the sub-structure under varying thermal conditions, and thus eliminating the creation of localized strains Within the membrane created by the resistance of the customary rigid securing means to expansionor contraction-induced movement of the membrane. It is an additional feature that the membrane roof-covering is at all times under a substantially uniform condition of tensile stress.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse section taken through a roofl structure embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail, particularly illustrating the resilient side support of the metallic membrane surfacing material; and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail showing struction at the down spout.

Referring to Figure 1, a load-supporting roofstructure I is illustrated as having a preferably dat sub-base II, which may be a concrete slab the consupported on walls I2, I3 and structurally reinforced by a suitable beam I4. The vsub-base II is the basic supporting structure of the roofproper, which may include a filling I5 of gypsumsawdust mixture, cinder concrete, or similar hardsetting, moldable material capable of bonding'` with the sub-base, and workable into a desired configuration; a metallic membrane water-proof surfacing or pan I6, in contact with the fill I5, but not otherwise aixed thereto; and a wearresistant flooring or decking, which may be fabricated of ceramic tiles. slates, or concrete blocks I8, laid in an adhesive bonding material, such as a suitable asphaltic mastic layer 20, which integrates the tiles I8 into a continuous door surface and adhesively secures them to the roofpan I 6. The pan I 6 preferably overhangs the sides of the roof slab I I, see Figure 2, and at such overhanging sides, there is provided a resilient 5 spring member 2I suitably. anchored to the slab II and engaging the edges of the membrane, as shown. f

Advantageously, the flll I5 is concave, providing for the drainage of water to a central point 10 at which a tile I8a, provided with an opening in register with a suitable down spout 22, accommodates the removal ofjwaterfrom thefroof.

The metallic pan I6 is'preferably fabricated of sheets of copper of foil thickness. Overlapping joints between contiguous sheets are advantageously soldered, to form an integral, Water-tight unit, coextensive with the roof structure. A suitable collar or flange 23 may be provided at the down spout 22, to make a water-tight connection therewith.

Provision is made for the expansionor contraction-induced movement or creepage of the roof-pan I6 in any degree, said provision incidentally maintaining the pan `under uniform con- 25 ditions of tensile stress. The overhanging marginal surfaces of the metallic roofing may be reinforced, as by a rigid strip v24, see Figure 2, soldered `or otherwise secured to the roof pan. The metallic roofing, which rests upon the ll I5 but is preferably not secured thereto, is resiliently anchored to sub-base I I by the cooperating spring members 2|, see Figs. 1 andv2. The members 2| may be of spring brass or phosphor bronze, having a leg or base 2Ia interposed be- 35 tween the fill I5 and sub-base II and rigidly secured to the latter, and an outwardly reaching edge 2lb, arranged to engage a hook or channel 24a formed by inwardly folding the reinforcing strip 24. The members 2| are at all times under 40 spring tension, and maintain the metallic membrane covering I6 under continual tensile stress.

The members 2l are preferably coextensive with the edges of the roof structure and, therefore, prevent rain or moisturefrom being driven into the ll- I5, or between the pan II and the with the fill I5, thereby supplementing the tension-inducing members 2l in maintaining the coppermembrane in smooth, non-buckling re" lationship with the ll I5.

In the described structure, it will be evident that the various components may have respectively difierent coefiicients of expansion. As respects the roof sub-structure per se, the copper is free to 'expand or contract, and, because of the uniform tension maintained in the copper by the members 2l, is not subjected to localized strains. The elasticity inherent in the asphaltic mastic layer 20 accommodates the relative difference in the expansion coeicient of the mastic and the copper, without inducing rupturing strains in the copper pan, both being capable of relative movement under diflerent thermal expansion or contraction without separation.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modiiications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A roof covering for a building, comprising membrane waterproofing material laid upon said roof and displaceable with respect thereto, wear resistant material superimposed upon said membrane, and continuous imperforate spring means substantiallycoextensive with the marginal edges of said membrane material secured to said building at a point substantially below the point of contact of said membrane material with said roof and in operative association with said membrane material to exert a tensile pull upon said membrane waterproofing material, said imperforate spring means forming a flashing ilor preventing an ingress of Water between the said membrane waterproofing material and said roof.

2. A roof covering for a building, comprising membrane waterproofing material laid upon said roof and displaceable with respect thereto, and spring means secured to said building beneath the said membrane waterproofing material and Within the periphery of said membrane waterproofing material and operatively associated with said material to place the same under tensile stress.

3. A covering for the roof of a building and means for securing said roof covering, comprising the combination with membrane waterproofing material laid upon said roof and projecting beyond the marginal edges thereof, of spring means secured to said building substantially beneath said membrane layer and extending upwardly and outwardly from said building to a point of engagement with said membrane layer, said spring means being adapted to place said membrane layer under tension.

4. A covering for the roof of a building and means for securing said roof covering, comprising the combination with sheet waterproong material laid upon said roof and extending beyond the marginal edges thereof, said sheet waterproong material being provided with reinforced edge portions embodying channel means disposed on the under side of said sheet waterproofing material, of spring means secured to said building beneath said sheet material and extending outwardly to engage said channel means, said spring means being adapted to subject said sheet material to tensile stress.

HERBERT A. FABER. 

